Guerra goes on DL as Dodgers bring back Wall

By Alex Angert / MLB.com

LOS ANGELES -- On the same day they found out closer Kenley Jansen will be out another two weeks, the Dodgers placed reliever Javy Guerra on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle. The move is retroactive to Sept. 3, and the team recalled righty Josh Wall from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace him.

Guerra, who started the year as the team's closer, was sent down in August to work on his control. He was recently called back up when rosters were expanded. He is 2-3 with a 2.60 ERA in 45 games and he has not allowed a run in his last 10 outings.

With Jansen out because of a recurrence of an irregular heartbeat, manager Don Mattingly said he planned to use Guerra in more extended appearances like Jamey Wright has done all season, with Wright making more late-game, higher-pressure appearances. Mattingly said Guerra hurt himself warming up before making a one-inning appearance on Sunday.

In Wall, Mattingly said the team gets more of a power arm who can go about an inning at a time.

Wall, who was optioned on Aug. 30, is 1-0 with an 11.57 ERA in three appearances through two stints with the Dodgers this season.

Dodgers hope to get Jansen back in two weeks

LOS ANGELES -- Closer Kenley Jansen said he can come off blood-thinning medication in 10 days and he expects to be able to come back when the Dodgers open a series against the Nationals in Washington on Sept. 18.

Jansen, who has been sidelined with a recurrence of an irregular heartbeat, was hopeful to come back for this weekend's series against the Giants, but there was also a possibility he would be done for the season.

Jansen is expecting to have non-open-heart surgery called cardiac ablation, but it is not definite. He is hopeful the surgery will allow him to stop taking medicine and keep him healthy in the long term without needing to worry about hypertension during games.

He said the expected recovery time for the surgery would be one to two months.

Jansen was pleased with the news and he is excited for an opportunity to help the team over the final two weeks of the season.

Until he comes off the blood-thinning medication, Jansen will continue his throwing and baseball activities on his own before the rest of the team practices. He has also been absent from the dugout during games to avoid the risk of a ball hitting him while on the medication.

In his absence, the Dodgers have been using Ronald Belisario and Brandon League in the closer role. Mattingly will continue to alternate between the two depending on matchups and who is fresher.

"I'd like to get there a little cleaner than have to use four or five guys a night," Mattingly said. "But if that's what we have to do, then it's where we are at right now."

Billingsley due for second injection in sore elbow

LOS ANGELES -- After a week of speculation, the Dodgers announced Chad Billingsley will have a second platelet-rich plasma injection Wednesday in his injured right elbow to see if he can come back to pitch this year.

However, manager Don Mattingly isn't optimistic Billingsley will be back this season and said his chances of a return could be pretty slim.

"The longer it goes, the less likely, obviously, it is that we're going to see him pitch," Mattingly said.

However, the skipper was more optimistic about Ted Lilly. The veteran lefty has been out since May 24 with left shoulder inflammation and his rehab was stalled when he started to feel lower back pain.

He will throw a simulated game on Wednesday with about an inning worth of pitches.

"I wouldn't mind having a lefty that could throw an inning out of the 'pen out there," said Mattingly, who also got promising news that Randy Choate won't miss any time after coming out of Monday's game when he was hit on his left hand by a comebacker.

Alex Angert is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.